The Meeting that changed everything
(or how I learned to say ‘Thank You’)
Back Story
Once upon a time, a long, long time ago (well, maybe a couple of years back)—I had a moment where I was so focused on the next thing that I forgot that thing that means so much to me: expressing gratitude.
I’d just finished presenting to a potential client I’d been referred to and with whom I really wanted to work.
The Meeting
At the meeting, their group was completely engaged and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the presentation; they kept saying how much fun it was and that it was so different!
We covered a lot of territory: engagement strategies, interactive activations, even the logistics of getting our Zoltar Fortune Teller Booth into a venue that clearly had never considered utilizing anything even remotely similar.
When I left the meeting, I felt great! Even more—I left feeling like I’d jumped over my own shadow and landed on my feet. I’d nailed it. The client was excited. They seemed enthralled by the ideas we’d discussed.
I left feeling like I finally had learned how to effectively present.
And then…crickets.
They ghosted me. Nothing.
A week later, I reached out, trying to be nonchalant—”Just circling back!” (Classic.) Still, no response.
Confused, I called my friend, our mutual contact. He laughed and said, “Umm, I heard your presentation was great, but…did you follow up? Did you thank them for their time?”
What I Didn’t Do
It hit me—hard.
Smacked me upside the head like a rogue folding chair at a trade show breakdown.
I’d been so hyper-focused on doing the next best thing that I’d completely forgotten to thank them for meeting with me. I didn’t even follow up with a simple “Thank you for your time,” email, let alone a card.
So, I did the next best thing—I sent them a heartfelt, sincere thank you letter and thanked them for their time, their insights, and their interest. Did they hire us? Not yet. That ship may have sailed. But that taught me what is truly important, I try never to miss a chance to say ‘thank you.’
The Giving Chain
I’ve learned that it’s twice as important to proactively thank people for making introductions and referrals, particularly because that referrer wants to know that their trusted people will be treated with respect.
This brings me back to, “The only thing people will remember is how you made them feel.” I’d inadvertently made them feel like it was purely transactional.
They’d taken time out of their packed schedules to meet with me, and I know I am grateful for that—whether we work together or not.
Lesson learned: Never underestimate the power of a simple “Thank you.”
My Secret Sauce (I know…I say it so often it’s no secret to anyone)
p.s. When I guest lectured for Dr. Boo’s Events class at Georgia State University’s Rollins School of Business, I always ended by telling the students about “my secret sauce” and how much I loved writing thank you notes. I truly get more out of it than the recipient—maybe because I am the only person able to decipher my writing – LOL.
One day after picking up my favorite son from school, I stopped to get my mail. There was a letter so I asked him to read it to me while I drove.
It turned out to be from one of the students in the class I’d recently taught, thanking me for sharing my insights. I told my son about what I’d taught and the power of thank you notes. He looked at me somewhat shocked and said, “She’s really smart, Mama.”
I agree. I hired her!
p.s. She was the only one who wrote a thank you card.